Kathryn Lemaster

Art and Design

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Archives for March 2015

Unstyled: A beautiful mess

Everyone loves a beautifully styled photo. I’m the queen of taking 15 minutes and 12 shots with my iPhone just to get that perfect “selfie” of my coffee cup, complete with the morning sunlight streaming in to highlight the steam coming off the top… #coffeesesh #cupojoe #goodmorning #mycoffeewokeuplikethis … you know the drill. We like pretty pictures of pretty things.

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Plus, styling is fun! Maddening as it can be, I love focusing on details, so I love the tweaking, fluffing, centering, taking away, adding more – whatever the equation is to get the desired composition in frame. It’s an art form. Toss the throw (throw the throw?) over the sofa this way – no, it looks better that way – okay now just two inches to the left – nope now it’s covering the pillow. Let’s just scratch the throw all together…

That’s art though. When it comes to reality, who actually lives in a perfectly styled or even clean house all the time? Somebody? Anybody? If that’s you, I’d really like to know your secret because 99% of the time my house is a complete disaster zone! My friends and family will be the first to tell you that. Because life is crazy. When I’m short on time (which is always…) and something has to give – the people in my life will always take priority over the places, spaces and things. Laundry will stack up to ridiculous heights. My desk becomes buried under piles. Name a surface – it probably hasn’t been dusted. The cute coaster and candle vignette you saw in a picture has been replaced with the PS3 and TV remote and a coffee ring… where did the coasters go?

I wanted to stop comparing my imperfect home to all of the perfect ones I see in photos – even the photos of spaces I’ve created for others! Just like I shouldn’t compare myself to the seemly flawless, stick-figure thin fashion models. That’s art. Those are photos. This is reality. It’s important to be happy in your own skin and in your own home.

With that in mind, I snapped a few photos around my office and living room recently as an exercise. Could I candidly snap a single photo, with no rearranging, no fluffing or polishing, no straightening the drapes or moving the clutter – could I do that and not be embarrassed by the flaws and imperfections I see?

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With all the things I’m still critical of  on my own “to-do” list still to be done – could I just appreciate what’s there now, as is? I began to focus on the beautiful things about this photo. The tall windows, the natural light, some of my favorite colors, the sweet puppy curled up on the couch… hey… that’s actually a pretty beautiful sight! Remotes and all!

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I was surprised how much I loved these spaces when I actually stopped and looked at them in a candid state. I love the stories behind the things in the room, regardless of the “camera ready” status. I know my rug is crumpled. I know there’s a crack in my ceiling that needs to be covered with crown. Yet somehow when I look at these images, it just makes my heart really happy because there’s a story behind each and everything that i love in here. The garland left over from my best friend’s baby shower. The rainbow art I created on my front porch on a sunny day with a glass of wine when I just needed some art therapy. The sketch of Paris my sister brought back for me from her travels abroad. The bell jar light fixture my mom and dad helped me install. Even unstyled and in slight disarray – it’s a reflection of me and those I love, and that is what really amplifies the beauty!

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The blue velvet chairs that were my grandmother-in-law’s. The pillow I made that made me realize I’m not a seamstress. The side table I picked up on an estate sale adventure. The lovely antique desk I get to use while storing for some of my best friends. There’s so much to love in this photo – no styling needed!

Love the space you’re in – appreciate what you have. To-do lists, wish-lists, dreams and aspirations for your home are great – that’s why I have a job – I get to come in to help people achieve those dreams. But don’t let those things stop you from realizing and appreciating how beautiful your home is right now, when it’s put together or when it’s falling apart – because it’s a reflection of you and your real life.

Embrace the beautiful mess.

Rufus and Nellie sure have.

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(Yes, that’s a tear in the sofa cushion. That was the dogs contribution to making the room really look lived in. Thanks y’all, for helping me keep it real.)

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Fall Decor Inspiration: At Home in Arkansas front porch feature!

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My 35th birthday (a month + a half ago now, ha!) w My 35th birthday (a month + a half ago now, ha!) was full of all the things - beautiful, joyful, colorful, wonderful, delightful - and while it’s taken me until now to say so here in my little digital scrapbook of my favorite memories - I’m so grateFULL and still savoring it all! 🥲😍 (I only wish there wasn’t a 10 photo limit 😂 as this feels like a mere fraction of my favorite captures from what was about a full week of celebrations.)

From the perfect birthday off on a reading picnic with my love 🧺 📚 🥂 spa time with my mama 💅🏼 homemade ramen dinner with my fellas 🍜 to the sweetest gathering of friends and family at our sweet lil @hideawaycabinar cabin 🏕️ to the most luxurious feeling escape to my favorite boutique hotel ✨ I was thoroughly spoiled and enjoyed every moment of it all! 🥰 

Thank you @forrest_addison_roberts for making it all happen and so special. 🥹🙏🏼 And thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and celebrated with us! 🤍

#octoberbirthday #birthdaymemories #fallismyfavorite #thatsdarling #verilymoment #postfortheaesthetic #travelgram #bradfordhouseokc #boutiquehotels #octoberlatergram #hotelinteriors #colormehappy
Kissing another year goodbye + greeting a new one Kissing another year goodbye + greeting a new one with gratitude last week as my 35th birthday arrived has had me scrolling through photos from over the past year. I want to snap a zoomed out picture of it all to hold close and keep savoring. It was such an blessing-filled year of new adventures, challenging growth, and memories I’ll forever cherish. Alas due to the 10 photo limit here and time still to sort, all I could settle on for now were these two captures by my love, of me surrounded by red rock glory in The Garden of the Gods on our end of summer adventure to Colorado. 🌄 

The mountains behind me, symbolic as this year has held unprecedented “mountains” never attempted before that one by one, I signed up to scale, all the while believing that you CAN have / do it all, just not all at the same time. 

I knew it would be cutting it close to write my first book draft by a publisher deadline shortly followed by another deadline from a marketing / tech team re the online design course. These mountains felt close and crowded in the midst of multiple all-year-long design projects, but not completely overlapping. It seemed with a careful rotation / distribution of energy it might be all possible. 

THEN the @hideawaycabinar project came about, too. It was without a doubt a “now” window God opened we lept through before it closed. For the last 1/3 of 34, it’s felt like go-time in uncharted territory in ways that’s stretched me beyond what I previous thought I could simultaneously do and be.

On paper I wouldn’t recommend this much at once. But in some wild way, it’s all been exactly what I’ve + we’ve needed to do for this season, I believe to prepare for the next. God has so graciously made ways like only He could for it to all finally be coming together. 

Convinced more than ever of limitlessness of the Source that fuels us, for “with man this would be impossible, but with God all things are possible.” And that where God calls, He provides and sustains. 💛

As we crest the tops of these various project mountains in the coming months, I’m still more inspired than tired, and absolutely cannot wait to share more from these current quests with you all soon! 🙏🏼
*UPDATE! And the winner is… @trena.corkern !! 🥳 Thank you all so much for participating and congratulations to our lucky winner!! We’ll see you there, Trena! 😄🙌🏼🏮*

It’s officially fall y’all! (I was thinking it was the 21st, but the fall equinox was infact at 1:50am this morning!! 🥳🍂)

I thought today would be a perfectly wonderful day to do a giveaway for a super fun event that I can’t wait to go to, coming to the Little Rock area NEXT WEEKEND! (Other dates and locations across the US, too!)

I can’t recall exactly how I first discovered these magical @waterlanternfestival events but ever since I knew they existed I’ve been dying to take the fellas to one and share our own magical “Tangled” moment of releasing lanterns over the water. ✨🥹 Not to mention food trucks, music and more!

I’m excited to be teaming up with the Water Lantern Festival to give away TWO FREE TICKETS, whether you can join us at the upcoming central Arkansas location on September 30th, or save them for a future date for the event location nearest you! 🥳 (See list of dates and locations on their website!

TO ENTER:
- like this post
- comment tagging someone you’d take with you to the event! (Up to three separate comments / tags!)
- make sure you’re following me here!
- for a bonus entry, share to your stories (and tag me so I know!)

Winner will be drawn early next week and announced here Tuesday morning! ☀️

#littlerockar #arkansaslife #giveawaytime #fallgiveaway #happyfallyall #waterlanternfestival2023 #atlastiseethelight #outdoorevents #familyfuntime #entertowin #comewithus #thatsdarling #festivallife #festivalfun
#latergram of our fancy feeling outfits for a dear #latergram of our fancy feeling outfits for a dear friend’s 1920’s setting dinner party a couple months ago. ✨ 

This summer has flown and it may take me till next summer to properly relish all of the memories we’ve made this one, but it’s been my favorite in a long while, being in this life here with you @forrest_addison_roberts . Love you to the moon and back, to infinity and beyond! 🚀 💫 ♾️ 😘

#summer2023 #memoriesinthemaking #latergram #thatsdarling #loveis #1920sfashion #balloonarch #balloondecorations #couplestyle #couplestyle #dinnerparty #blushandgold
#flashbackfriday to this budget friendly breakfast #flashbackfriday to this budget friendly breakfast room update in a client’s Air BnB makeover! 🤩🙌🏼 Swipe to see the before, and find on @weekendermanagement to stay here! ✨ 

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#thatsdarling #kitchendecor #breakfastroom #diningroomdesign #kitchendesign #homeimprovement #interiorinspo #beforeandafterhomeedition #kitchengoals #homesweethome #theartofslowliving #thehappynow #flashesofdelight #diyhomedecor #verilymoment #pursuepretty #interiorstyled #interiordecor #airbnbhomes #airbnbdesign #airbnbdesigner #interiordesign #kjlartanddesign
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It is a delight to work with Kathryn LeMaster. She is a good listener who has been able to help us transition into a smaller home while still keeping the essence of our family intact.

- CINDI C.

My husband and I decided to update our house focusing on the kitchen and bathrooms. We were so impressed from the beginning with Kathryn! She was easy to work with and took our vision and made it all come together! She was extremely professional and we highly recommend her. Thanks Kathryn!! We couldn't be happier!!!

- LAURA D.

I have been doing business with Kathryn for several years, where she had played an integral role to enhance the quality and appeal of the visual impact of our furniture in TV commercial s. She independently picks products that perfectly match each commercial. She is also an absolute pleasure to work with. She is flexible when needed, and always has a positive disposition.

- LAWRENCE ZIGERELLI, PRESIDENT/CEO, FFO HOME

We asked Kathryn to create sets for a food shoot with multiple items. She created sets with for each dish and had them passed them off with the client who was out of town. She was extremely organized and methodical about how she purchased and approved each set. Not only was her work exceptional, her presence made the client feel at ease.

- DERO SANFORD, OWNER, THINKDERO

We highly recommend Kathryn. She listened to us as her clients and executed ideas based upon our design style. We had bought a new house and asked her to help us furnish, design, and style It. We appreciated her detailed drawings and ability to "show" us the vision and plan. She is quick to respond and allows for flexibility based upon timeline needs. Once deciding together on budget, she works toward that goal. She is a lot of fun to work with!

- CHRISTY H.

Kathryn assisted me in styling and accessorizing our new home. She nailed my design ideas and style based on the questionnaire and my comments. I was amazed at how she was able to match my style exactly! It would have taken me years to accomplish what she accomplished in one day. I would highly recommend her and look forward to working with her again in the future.

- BEVERLY R.

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